Bajrang Dal Protests at Sribhumi Bus Stand Over Attempted Rape Case on Moving Bus

Tension gripped the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC) bus stand in Sribhumi on Wednesday morning as Bajrang Dal members staged a protest over an alleged attempted rape case. The agitation led to a shutdown of bus services, prompting police intervention to restore order.

The incident occurred on Tuesday evening (April 1) when a young woman, traveling from Badarpur, was allegedly attacked by three men inside a moving bus. The bus was empty when she boarded, but the accused reportedly shut the door and attempted to assault her. However, they later abandoned her at Chargola before fleeing. Locals rescued the woman and admitted her to Sribhumi Civil Hospital.

Following the incident, members of the Hindu Rakshi Dal protested late at night in the Sribhumi town but withdrew after police assured them that the accused would be arrested overnight. However, as the arrests did not materialise, Bajrang Dal members took to the streets on Wednesday, blocking the bus stand and demanding immediate action.

A member of the Bajrang Dal said, “Earlier we have heard of such cases in Delhi, Mumbai or Bangalore but never thought this day would come here in Sribhumi and the culture has reached Barak Valley. If the case was in Guwahati for instance, the steps taken would have been much bigger within 12 hours. Just because it is in Sribhumi we had to take to the streets. We are hurt. We have our government both at the centre and the state, but still, Bajrang Dal has to protest against the arrest of a criminal. This is shameful. We urge the government to step up and arrest the rapist and set examplary punishment for such criminals”.

Another protestor warned, “If the police fail to arrest the accused within 24 hours, we will block all national highways in Sribhumi and escalate our agitation.”

As per the protestors, one bus has been taken into police custody, but the main suspects remain at large. The Bajrang Dal has given a 24-hour ultimatum, threatening a larger district-wide movement if arrests are not made within the stipulated time.